Learn to Read Music (Without Playing an Instrument) is a self-paced email course with videos and worksheets. It is designed for adult learners who have no musical background. This course focuses on learning to read a single line of music, without extensive discussion of music theory. This course teaches the foundations that will assist in more advanced study of music theory.

What You'll Get

  • 14 lessons divided into 24 emails
  • 12 worksheets
  • Email contact with Jill

What You'll Study

  • How to understand a classical music concert program
  • The names of pitches
  • Clefs and the staff
  • Notes and rests
  • Time signatures
  • Key signatures
  • Dynamics

Anticipated Outcomes

  • The ability to interpret the parts of a classical music program
  • An emerging vocabulary of common classical music terms
  • An awareness of how the musical staff, notes, clefs, time signatures, and key signatures work together
  • A functional knowledge of how to read music​

What Won't Happen

  • Fluency in reading music
  • The ability to test out of Intro to Music Theory in college
Think of this course as a pre-introduction to music theory. It will introduce the basics and give you enough background that you won't be totally lost when joining the community choir taking a music theory elective. It may also help you if you're trying to teach yourself piano or another instrument through a method book. ​

Generative AI

​Generative AI was not used to create the content of this course. By purchasing this course, you are supporting a human creator. Thank you for that support!

AI was used to create video subtitles. 

Find Me Online

The Variety Page Limited is loosely focused on biblical studies and applied theology.

The Variety Page Blog is where I write about whatever catches my attention.

The Variety Page Circular is the companion newsletter to The Variety Page Blog. That's where you can find out about classes, new sheet music, and read more of whatever caught my attention.

The Variety Page Reads is where you can shop for books I've read and found worth sharing.
​(*I earn a commission from Bookshop.org for purchases made through The Variety Page Reads.)